Three- and four-wide receiver sets, passes flying down the field, and it’s the preseason. To those familiar with Curtis’ powerhouse football program, it was an odd sight.

And it wasn’t a just-in-case scenario – this is how the Warriors plan to attack opposing defenses. Behind rocket-armed sophomore quarterback Prince Dukes, Curtis is leaving its smash-mouth style for a more high-tech game plan, a stretch-the-field, catch-us-if-you-can mentality.

The 2009 city champions certainly have the pieces to make it work, led by the 6-foot-3 Dukes. Curtis coach Pete Gambardella is giving him the ball and letting the underclassman with preliminary interest from Syracuse and Rutgers run – in this case, throw – with it.

“We’ve had some great quarterbacks at Curtis, but we haven’t had someone who can throw like that in a long time,” Gambardella said.

He has plenty of weapons, from returning standouts Carl Taylor and Tayquan Faulkner to transfers Kevin Austin from Florida and Elijah Caldwell from Maryland. Faulkner put on a show in a recent three-team scrimmage with Bronx power DeWitt Clinton and New Utrecht, turning short screens into big gains and using his 6-foot frame to out-leap smaller defensive backs.

That’s not to say Gambardella wants Dukes to throw the ball 40 times a game. Curtis has three more-than-capable running backs in returner Josh Artis, JV call-up Marli Singleton and Kevin Austin he thinks can produce once the offensive line gains cohesion.

“They all bring something special to the table,” Gambardella said. “It may be week to week, but we’re gonna see all three.”

The guys up front will be integral to the backs’ success. Returning 6-foot-2, 250-pound left tackle Paul Scrocco is a rock and the group will only improve when two-way lineman Tyrell Washington returns in a few weeks from a sprained knee.

Dukes understands it’s about winning games, not stats – “he gets the big picture,” Gambardella said – and as he learns more about reading defenses, he has shown an inclination to audible to running plays when the opportunity presents itself. During the scrimmage, Curtis actually ran the ball more during one first series, to sterling results.

“We’re gonna have to be able to run the ball,” the coach said. “We learned that last year.”

Gambardella was referring to the Warriors quarterfinal loss to Campus Magnet. For most programs, reaching the quarterfinals the year after winning it all would be described as a success. Not necessarily for Curtis.

“We made a promise to ourselves to bounce back this year,” said Taylor, the speedy slot receiver/cornerback.

Scrocco said: “Our goal is to win a PSAL championship. Every year that’s our goal and we hope we can make it there.”

Curtis’ usual forte – dominant defense – will be led by linemen Washington, 6-foot-1, 225-pound transfer Keevin Austin from Florida and 6-foot-3, 295-pound Josh Best, Kevin Austin at linebacker and shutdown cornerbacks Yash Lewis and Taylor. The group was solid last year and hopes to improve upon its numbers, despite a few key losses.

“I love our defense,” Taylor said.

Ultimately, though, all eyes will be on Dukes and the Warriors offense, how good he meshes with the transfers and the senior holdovers. On paper, the unit can be flat-out scary.

“When you have a lot of good receivers and a good quarterback, it leads to a lot of touchdowns,” Taylor said.

As a freshman, Dukes threw for 902 yards and seven touchdowns in part-time duty. Teammates and coaches raved about his work ethic since last year ended. He organized workouts with receivers during the summer, improved his footwork and has got better at reading zone defenses.

Now, starting in a week, he will be in a charge of a different kind of Curtis.